WIRE:Oct. 12, 7:04 a.m. ET
Wyoming student who was savagely beaten dies -2 
 
Rulon Stacey, the chief executive officer of the Poudre  Valley Health System, told reporters Shepard died at 12:53 a.m.  MDT (2:53 a.m. EDT) Monday and that his family was at his  bedside.

The parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, had flown from Saudi  Arabia where the father works in the oil industry, to be with  their son.

Shepard had been in critical condition and on life support  since when he arrived at the hospital Wednesday night. Police  have said gay bashing and robbery were motives in the beating.  Shepard led an openly gay life as a student at the university.

Two men are in custody for the attack and their girlfriends,  who allegedly have provided them alibis and helped hide bloody  clothes, have been charged as accessories after the fact.

^REUTERS@

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